News, info, and opinion by Mac users, for Mac users.

March 28, 2008

updates

Update-a-palooza: Tiger on Intel Macs, Mac Pros, and Aperture, oh my!

Posted Mar. 28, ’08, 8:23 AM PT by Dan Moren
Category | Software » Updates

Software UpdateAs if springing a trap on unsuspecting prey, Apple waited until late last night to release a torrent of updates. Where were we? Peacefully asleep in our beds, dreaming of sugarplums (I actually still have no idea what sugarplums are, but rest assured they haunt my dreams).

First up, we’ve got the AirPort Extreme Update 2008-001 for Tiger. Rowr, indeed. As you might guess, this patch “improves the reliability of AirPort connections.” If you’re running Tiger on an Intel Mac (and don’t think we don’t know who you are), then you’d best be downloading this already.

Mac Pro owners, you’re not off the hook either: for you, we have a special deal—the Mac Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.3, specifically intended for those who’ve purchased Mac Pros in the early days of 2008. The update, which “fixes several issues to improve the stability” of the model, revs the BootROM to version MP31.006C.B05.

Finally, to those of you who are happily photo-editing away on Aperture 2.0, we’ve got a treat for you as well: Aperture 2.1. Here, at least, Apple has deigned to share with us some details of what the updates covers:

Aperture 2.1 updates various features of the application and addresses issues related to performance and overall stability. It also includes fixes that impact a number of other areas, including import, Quick Preview, All Projects view, image adjustments, books, printing, and export. The update is recommended for all customers using Aperture 2.
Excellente! Aperture 2.1 also activates Aperture’s plug-in architecture, which we discussed when Aperture 2.0 was released. When you download 2.1, you’ll get a free Dodge & Burn plug-in from Apple (no, it’s not some underappreciated ’70s folk rock duo—but it could be).

That’s quite a trio of different fixes, but if you somehow manage to require all three (i.e., you’re running Aperture 2.0 on Tiger on an early 2008 Mac Pro), we congratulate you for the update trifecta.


4 Comments

Martin Cooper said:

My MacBook keeps on wanting to install the MacPro EFI update.
I just had a replacement logic board in the MacBook. Maybe it is not sure what it is now.
More to the point, how do I tell Software Update to forever ignore this update? It keeps on wanting to restore it when I uncheck the suggestion.
Thanks

March 28, 2008 9:19 AM
Dan Moren Author Profile Page said:

@Martin: Give this a shot. Open up System Preferences, go to the Accounts pane and select the Login Items tab under your account. There may be a "Mac Pro EFI update" listed there; select it and hit the "-" button at the bottom of the list.

Hope that helps!

March 28, 2008 9:35 AM
Martin Cooper said:

Nope, not there.
It does not ask to install on startup, only when I do Software update.
I tell it to install, it does but the boot rom does not change.
If I do Software Update again, there is the EFI for the MacPro again.
Thanks. Maybe I will submit the problem at MacInTouch.

March 28, 2008 1:48 PM
Cycomachead said:

You can hit the Delete key when the update is selected or use the Update menu. Or update it and see what happens - have the firmware restore CD ready though.

Anyway, I'm loving the new Aperture update!

March 28, 2008 2:51 PM

Leave a comment

 



IDG IDG NETWORK:   CIO   Computerworld   CSO   GamePro   GamerHelp   IDG Connect   Infoworld  
   JavaWorld   LinuxWorld   Macworld   Network World   PC World   PC World Canada   Playlist   Techworld